Cool foods

With the summer heat and my lack of running, I'm going to be posting a series of hot-weather recipes.  These don't require an oven so you won't heat up your house!  I used the basil from my garden for the chicken salad... It was lovely.  

• Mocha Ice Cream (from Southern Living)

  Ingredients

• 1 (8-ounce) package semisweet chocolate squares, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup strong brewed coffee $
• 2 cups whipping cream
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 3/4 cup sugar, divided $
• 3 tablespoons instant coffee granules $
• 4 egg yolks

Preparation

1. Microwave chocolate in a 1-quart microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 1/2 minutes or until melted, stirring twice; stir in brewed coffee. Set chocolate mixture aside.
2. Bring whipping cream, half-and-half, 1/2 cup sugar, and coffee granules to a boil in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar and coffee dissolve.
3. Beat yolks and remaining 1/4 cup sugar at high speed with an electric mixer until thick and pale. With mixer at low speed, gradually pour hot cream mixture into yolk mixture; return to saucepan.
4. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 6 to 8 minutes or until mixture thickens and coats a spoon. Remove from heat; stir in chocolate mixture. Cover and chill 2 hours.
5. Pour chilled mixture into freezer container of a 5-quart hand-turned or electric freezer. Freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.
6. Pack freezer with additional ice and rock salt, and let stand 1 hour. Serve ice cream with cookies, if desired.

Chicken Salad (from Allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

• 2 whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup chopped fresh basil
• 2 cloves crushed garlic
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Roast at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 35 minutes, or until juices run clear. Let cool, and chop into chunks. (I just boiled mine)
2. In a food processor, puree the mayonnaise, basil, garlic, and celery.
3. Combine the chunked chicken, pureed mixture, and Parmesan cheese; toss. Refrigerate, and serve.

No Bake PB Bars (from Sixsistersstuff.com)

Ingredients
1 cup butter melted
2 cups graham cracker crumbs (use the boxed kind, or grind them in a food processor. Tiny granules.)
2 cups confectioners’ sugar (aka powdered sugar)
1 cup + 4 tablespoons peanut butter
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

Directions
In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, confectioners’ sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter until well blended. Press evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9×13 inch pan. (I did mine in a 9X9 square pan because I wanted them thicker) In the microwave, melt the chocolate chips with the peanut butter, stirring every 30 seconds until melted until smooth. Spread over the peanut butter layer. Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into squares.